Meltable / castable explosive composition and method for producing the same

Abstract

To provide a meltable / castable explosive composition and a method for producing the same.SOLUTION: A meltable / castable explosive composition (10) is characterized in that: (a) it comprises at least two components of (i) a meltable explosive (12) and (ii) a phlegmatizer (23) soluble at the melting temperature of the meltable explosive (12); and (b) the phlegmatizer (23) is present in a non-zero mass proportion that is less than or equal to 10% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10) and the meltable explosive (12) is present in a mass proportion greater than 20% and less than 100% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10), the sum of the mass proportions of the components of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10) being 100%.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is in the field of fusible / castable explosive compositions. This can be used in the field of munition filling by a melt casting process.

Background Art

[0002] Existing explosive compositions based on fusible / castable matrices implemented by melt casting technology are inherently non-uniform due to different insoluble particle species that disperse irregularly in this fusible medium during the mixing stage. Nevertheless, after the completion of this implementation process, this filling needs to conform to increasingly stringent requirements. On the other hand, fusible / castable explosive compositions need to obtain safety performance and functional performance characteristics (primability, detonation, vulnerability - MURAT (abbreviation of the French Munitions a Risques Attenues which means munitions with reduced risks)), and the loaded articles need to be uniform in every respect. And on the other hand, they need to conform to the special constraints of military energy substance approvals. The integrity of the explosive composition regarding the above performance characteristics requires that the munition can cope with the reliability in the process of its operational use, and at the same time, it is necessary to reduce the risk of accidental ignition in the case of handling accidents or intentional attacks, and when an explosion exists, it is necessary to be able to reduce the collateral damage to personnel and launch pads.

[0003] Therefore, in order to increase the safety reliability and performance characteristics of munitions throughout their entire lifecycle (manufacturing, storage, transport, use, and demilitarization), it is crucial to ensure the best possible uniformity of the propellant charge after it has solidified within the munitions body. These formulations must also meet increasingly stringent requirements (low dispersibility of physicochemical and mechanical properties, and maintenance of these properties over time), which in the case of France are described in general instruction S-CAT 17500, edition 6, dated December 2019, and in the case of NATO members, in STANAG.4170, edition 3, dated 2008. To maintain compliance with these legal requirements, it is necessary to enhance control over the uniformity of munitions loading.

[0004] Therefore, controlling the uniformity of explosive compositions in munitions is crucial to meet all these requirements. This control has so far been achieved by using a single component or by adding various additives to stabilize mixtures, such as surfactants, with a mass percentage value of more than 60% of the particle species.

[0005] Historically, munitions were loaded with picric acid, and after World War II, with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) as the base. These loads were single-component loads and thus originally addressed the problem of uniformity. For reasons related to the final and fragility performance of munitions, numerous formulations were developed by adding additives to this TNT base. The first approach adopted was to integrate granular explosives into historical formulations such as RDX (or cyclotrimethylene-trinitroamine, also known as hexogen) and HMX (an abbreviation for High Melting point eXplosive, also called cyclotetramethylene-tetranitroamine or octogen) to significantly enhance the detonation performance characteristics (one example that can be mentioned is composition B 60 / 40-RDX / TNT). To obtain the desired performance characteristics and to maintain uniformity throughout the loading cycle, one or more solid species with different particle size distributions are introduced in amounts of about 60 mass%. This amount significantly increases the viscosity of the liquid mixture, limiting phase separation and precipitation, and can also alter the density of these species. The principle is to determine the particle size distribution as accurately as possible, allowing for the introduction of the maximum possible number of particle species within a given space. The main effect of this is to prevent the aforementioned species from aligning with each other.

[0006] The first prior art solution developed to ensure the uniformity and stability of a composition over time is the use of surfactant additives. These molecules have the ability to have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail, and can increase the affinity between TNT and the desensitizer. These are substances intended to reduce the sensitivity of explosive compositions to accidental impacts. Examples of such compositions can be found in French Patent No. 2750131 and French Patent No. 2954308, which utilize surfactants of the polyvinylpyrrolidone type.

[0007] On the one hand, using one or more surfactants to stabilize the liquid phase throughout the entire manufacturing process of a composition until it solidifies requires the use of specialized industrial equipment such as foaming mixers and rotor-stator mixers. This type of agitator, commonly used in the cosmetics industry to form emulsions, is unsuitable for use with mixtures containing explosives. The reason is, obviously, that these blades generate very high shear stresses, which can lead to combustion accidents after heating or friction. On the other hand, surfactants commonly used in this field are developed for the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agrofeed industries. Their purpose is to form an interface between "fatty" substances (lowly functionalized long alkyl chains) and the aqueous phase. In the case of explosive formulations based on TNT, stabilizing heterogeneous or even miscible mixtures between two "fatty" substances with low chemical affinity becomes an even greater problem, meaning that most surfactants are ineffective or have only a slight effect. Therefore, this type of solution is not ideal.

[0008] Another solution in conventional technology involves using a single-component propellant charge, such as TNT or DNAN (dinitroanisole). This type of charge is inherently perfectly uniform because it contains only one component. However, the inherent properties of these components cannot meet the performance requirements of new generation ordnance (MURAT signature, high terminal ballistic performance characteristics (e.g., armor-piercing attacks)).

[0009] Another solution in the prior art involves significantly increasing the percentage of solid components (to over 60% by mass) and adjusting the particle size distribution of each solid additive to achieve maximum density. This is because, once this density is achieved, the various particle types are mechanically bound together so that they do not settle or undergo phase separation when loaded into the munitions. Nevertheless, once this density is achieved, the mixture becomes very viscous, limiting the castability of the resulting composition. This often necessitates raising the temperature of the mixture, or even creating a reduced pressure (a vacuum of about 50 mbar) within the munitions body. The increased temperature significantly increases the energy used in the manufacture of the munitions, and performing the loading operation under reduced pressure is not compatible with the standard equipment used by those skilled in the art. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] French Patent No. 2750131 [Patent Document 2] French Patent No. 2954308 Specification [Non-patent literature]

[0011] [Non-Patent Document 1] S-CAT 17500,edition 6,dated December 2019 [Non-Patent Document 2] STANAG.4170,edition 3,dated 2008 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The present invention aims to overcome some or all of the above problems by providing a molten / castable explosive composition having a small number of components that can meet the increasingly stringent requirements imposed on both operational performance and safety performance for MURAT signatures. The present invention also has the advantage that it does not require any modification of the manufacturing equipment compared to conventional equipment in the art. Furthermore, with the compositions of the present invention, the desired performance characteristics of the propellant charge obtained after the solidification of the composition can be adjusted simply by adapting the ratio of its components without affecting the manufacturing method of the composition. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] Therefore, the subject of the present invention is a molten / castable explosive composition: A molten explosive, preferably a nitrated aromatic ring, and more preferably 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; A blunt agent soluble at the melting temperature of a molten explosive, It contains at least two of the following ingredients: The desensitizer is present in a non-zero mass ratio of 10% or less of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition, preferably between 2% and 6% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition, and more preferably between 3% and 5% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition; The molten explosive is present in a mass ratio of more than 20% but less than 100% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition, preferably more than 30% but less than 100%, preferably more than 40% but less than 100%, and more preferably more than 50% but less than 100%, and the total mass ratio of the components of the molten / castable explosive composition is 100%.

[0014] The desensitizer is advantageous because it has a melting point higher than the melting point of the molten explosive.

[0015] The desensitizer has a density that is advantageously greater than 1.0, and preferably greater than 1.2.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the desensitizer may be a derivative of one of benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the desensitizer is a benzene-based derivative of one of benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene functionalized with one or more groups from a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, and a sulfonyl group.

[0018] The desensitizer is preferably naphthol, more preferably naphth-2-ol.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the meltable / castable explosive composition according to the present invention further comprises at least one component from inert particulate species and / or at least one energetic particulate species, present in a mass ratio of 60% or less, preferably 50% or less, of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition.

[0020] The present invention also relates to an ordnance item bounded by a hollow body, wherein the hollow body is at least partially filled with a meltable / castable explosive composition of this type.

[0021] The present invention is a method for producing a meltable / castable explosive composition of this type, comprising: melting a meltable explosive; adding a desensitizer to the melted meltable explosive; mixing the desensitizer into the melted meltable explosive to obtain a homogenized mixture, and relates to a method comprising the above steps.

[0022] The present invention is a method for loading an ordnance item bounded by a hollow body, comprising: the steps of the method for producing a meltable / castable explosive composition; casting the homogenized mixture into the hollow body and relates to a method comprising the above steps.

[0023] A detailed description of one embodiment provided as an example will give a better understanding of the present invention and reveal other advantages, which are illustrated by the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1] This diagram outlines the principle of emulsions of molten / castable explosive compositions using conventional technology. [Figure 2] This diagram schematically illustrates the principle of solubilization of the molten / castable explosive composition according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This diagram schematically illustrates a military product containing a molten / castable explosive composition according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the steps for the method of producing the molten / castable explosive composition according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] For clarity, the same elements are given the same reference symbols in various diagrams. For better visibility and understanding, elements are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0026] The object of the present invention is to ensure the uniformity of a composition in a simple and reproducible manner at all concentrations based on the solubility of one or more components added. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to limit the number of components in a molten / castable explosive composition. In contrast to well-known prior art compositions, which tend to have an increasing number of added components such as surfactants, the present invention ensures excellent uniformity of the molten / castable explosive composition in the solid phase, while also ensuring a high degree of insensitivity to accidental impacts during use and good detonation performance characteristics.

[0027] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the principle of conventional molten / castable explosive compositions. Conventionally, molten / castable explosive compositions contain molten explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (commonly known as TNT). To reduce the sensitivity of the explosive composition to accidental impacts, it is necessary to add a desensitizer to the composition. Furthermore, existing compositions require a surfactant or emulsifier to ensure a certain level of intermolecular mixing, as described above.

[0028] The desensitizers used are primarily mixtures of long-chain alkanes that are linear or have a low degree of branching and have virtually no degree of functionalization. These molecules have only weak van der Waals interactions and have a very small chemical affinity to TNT. At temperatures higher than the melting temperature of TNT (approximately 80.4°C, depending on the purity of TNT), they form a two-phase medium. The use of surfactants is important to improve the chemical affinity between TNT and conventional desensitizers (paraffin wax). These surfactants are selected based on whether they have a hydrophobic tail with high chemical affinity to wax and a more hydrophilic head with some affinity to TNT. Under specific ratios and working conditions, an emulsion that becomes somewhat stable over time can be formed.

[0029] This type of conventional composition has the advantage of containing numerous components and requiring the formation of an emulsion. The emulsion is a heterogeneous mixture of two immiscible liquid substances, one of which (a desensitizer and a surfactant) is dispersed in the form of small droplets in the other (liquid TNT). These two liquids do not mix spontaneously. A macroscopically homogeneous appearance can only be obtained through special operations of stirring, mixing, and the addition of optional active ingredients. However, microscopically, the emulsion remains heterogeneous.

[0030] This problem is schematically shown in Figure 1. Reference symbol A represents liquid TNT 12. Reference symbol B represents the addition of desensitizer 13 and surfactant 14 to liquid TNT 12. Reference symbol C represents the combination of liquid TNT 12, desensitizer 14 and surfactant 14 having a uniform appearance after several minutes, for example, 10 minutes, with proper stirring. As described above, this stirring is highly specialized and requires the adaptation of existing manufacturing equipment and the high competence of personnel with this type of emulsion technology. Furthermore, this stirring can be dangerous due to substantial shear caused by the type of stirring required, and combustion accidents may occur. Finally, as very schematically seen in reference symbol D, the combination of liquid TNT 12, desensitizer 14 and surfactant 14 is not perfectly uniform several minutes or even several hours after stirring is stopped.

[0031] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the principle of solubilization of the molten / castable explosive composition 10 according to the present invention. Reference symbol A' represents liquid TNT 12. Reference symbol B' represents the addition of the desensitizer 23 to the liquid TNT 12 according to the present invention. Reference symbol C' shows the combination of liquid TNT 12 and desensitizer 23 after several minutes of proper stirring, for example, 10 minutes. Finally, several minutes after stopping stirring, the combination of liquid TNT 12 and desensitizer 23 according to the present invention is perfectly homogeneous. In addition to ensuring homogeneity at a microscopic level, it should be emphasized that the mixing of the desensitizer into the liquid TNT is carried out by existing mixing means without creating further problems.

[0032] As will become apparent from the following description, the present invention relates to a molten / castable explosive composition comprising a molten explosive and a desensitizer having a chemical structure that exhibits very strong chemical affinity to the molten explosive. The TNT molecule exhibits strong van der Waals interactions due to the benzene ring and the nitro groups at positions 2, 4, and 6. TNT is also a strong Lewis base due to the unbonded doublet present on the oxygen of the nitro group. To ensure miscibility of the solution, and therefore maximum homogeneity, the structure of the desensitizer according to the present invention is characterized by strong van der Waals interactions and Lewis acid function.

[0033] The present invention comprises at least two components, namely a molten explosive 12 and a desensitizer 23: The molten explosive 12 is preferably a nitrated aromatic, more preferably trinitrotoluene; The desensitizer 23 is soluble at the melting temperature of the molten explosive. This relates to a molten / castable explosive composition 10.

[0034] According to the present invention, the desensitizer 23 is present in a non-zero mass ratio of 10% or less of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition 10.

[0035] According to the present invention, the molten explosive is present in a mass ratio of more than 20% but less than 100% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition, preferably more than 30% but less than 100%, more preferably more than 40% but less than 100%, and more preferably more than 50% but less than 100% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition. The sum of the mass ratios of the components of the molten / castable explosive composition 10 is 100%. It should be noted that in the case of a mass ratio of less than 30% of the molten explosive, it is preferable that a desensitizer be present in a mass ratio between 5% and 10% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition 10. This allows the composition to maintain a liquid phase (before the composition solidifies) in a ratio sufficient to ensure the effective castability of the composition before final solidification.

[0036] In other words, the composition according to the present invention comprises a molten explosive and up to 10% by mass of a desensitizer having the aforementioned properties. In this case, the mass ratio of the molten explosive is adjusted so that the sum of the mass ratios of the molten explosive and the desensitizer is 100%. In one variant of the present invention, the composition may also contain particulate matter. In this case, these ratios are adjusted so that the sum of the mass ratios of the molten explosive, the desensitizer, and the particulate matter is 100%. It should be emphasized again that the composition according to the present invention contains neither surfactants nor emulsifiers. This is because, with the appropriate selection of the desensitizer, the desensitizer can be dissolved in the molten explosive in liquid form, and conventional mixing ensures the homogeneity of the composition. After solubilization, the desensitizer is sufficiently dispersed in the liquid molten explosive, and this dispersion is maintained until the solidification of the material, which generally occurs within the body of the munitions, takes place.

[0037] The composition according to the present invention enables a specific response to the requirement for uniformity of the propellant charge after solidification within the body of a military item.

[0038] The molten / castable explosive composition contains a molten explosive, which is first melted. Next, a desensitizer is added to the liquid molten explosive and mixed to form a completely homogeneous liquid combination. This liquid combination is then intended to be cast into munitions, where it solidifies.

[0039] The molten explosive is preferably a nitrated aromatic ring, more preferably TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene). TNT has good detonation properties and relatively low shock sensitivity. One characteristic unique to TNT is that it melts at a temperature of around 80°C, which allows for charging the propellant in a liquid state within the metal casing (the body of the munitions) simply by gravity. Since the desensitizer of the present invention is soluble at the melting temperature of the molten explosive (for example, about 80.4°C for TNT), the problem of heterogeneity in the container and projectile after the cooling stage is greatly limited. Once solubilized, the desensitizer is well dispersed in the liquid TNT, and this dispersion is maintained until the substance solidifies. With the mixing of the molten explosive and the desensitizer, both in liquid form, the chemical affinity between the desensitizer and the molten explosive, guaranteed by their chemical structures, ensures that the resulting mixture is bonded at the molecular level. Therefore, after the composition according to the present invention solidifies, the desensitizer is preferably well dispersed in the medium formed by the molten explosive.

[0040] Nitrated aromatic explosives have a basic structure consisting of at least one aromatic ring and one NO2 functional group. An example of a nitrated aromatic explosive may have a basic structure consisting of at least one benzene ring containing at least three NO2 groups and three other groups, for example, R, R', and R''. This type of molecule has the following structure: [ka] This can be roughly represented as follows.

[0041] There are numerous nitrated aromatic explosives whose structure does not contain a benzene ring, but instead consists of tetrazoles, triazines, triazoles, or pyrazoles, and which may have only one NO2 group. These nitrated aromatic explosives may be the molten explosive 12 of the composition according to the present invention.

[0042] In the case of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene having the empirical formula C7H5N3O6 or C6H2(NO2)3CH3, R is a -CH3 group, and R' and R'' are -H groups. It should be noted that there are also three trinitrotoluene isomers of TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene): 2,3,4-, 2,3,5-, and 2,3,6-trinitrotoluene. These trinitrotoluene isomers of TNT are produced as reaction byproducts and are less frequently used because their advantageous properties are slightly inferior to those of TNT, but they can also be used as molten explosive components in the compositions of the present invention.

[0043] In the compositions according to the present invention, the molten explosive is preferably TNT, but other molten explosives, such as 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) or N-MeTNP (N-methyltrinitropyrazole), are also suitable. The groups R, R', and R'' can be selected from groups of -H, -CH3, -NHCH3, -OH, -NH2, and combinations thereof. In any case, the properties of the miscible molecules are adapted to match the selected molten explosive.

[0044] In one variant of the present invention, the desensitizer is preferably present in a mass ratio between 2% and 6% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition, more preferably between 3% and 5% of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition. A higher proportion of the desensitizer increases the insensitivity of the composition to accidental impacts, while a higher proportion of the molten explosive results in better final performance of the ordnance in terms of explosions. Therefore, it is appropriate to select the correct ratio between these two components. A desensitizer at a mass ratio of 2% to 6% of the total mass of the composition provides a good level of insensitivity while maintaining good detonation properties. A desensitizer at a mass ratio of 3% to 5% of the total mass of the composition ensures good detonation properties while simultaneously ensuring a good level of insensitivity to impacts such as fire, friction, and bullet impacts.

[0045] Therefore, the compositions according to the present invention provide a great degree of freedom in developing new formulations for target final performance by simply adapting the mass percentage values ​​of their components, without affecting the industrial means required for the production of such compositions.

[0046] Therefore, it is very clear that the explosive composition according to the present invention does not require the use of additives such as surfactants, which are necessary in the case of TNT compositions having wax as a desensitizer. The present invention makes it possible to achieve the expected final performance characteristics (final efficacy and MURAT signature) while simultaneously eliminating the need for additives and stabilizers and limiting the number of components in the formulation. The present invention makes it possible to microscopically address the uniformity requirements arising from general instructions and STANAG.

[0047] Another variant of the explosive composition according to the present invention, having the characteristic of being able to be combined with each other, is described below.

[0048] Desensitizers advantageously have a melting point higher than that of molten explosives. A high melting point of the desensitizer can substantially limit the problem of propellant leaching during the lifecycle of the munitions.

[0049] The desensitizer advantageously has a density greater than 1.0, preferably greater than 1.2. The density of the propellant is directly related to certain performance characteristics of the ordnance, such as the fragmentation rate, and therefore the goal is to make the density of the propellant as high as possible.

[0050] In one variant of the present invention, the desensitizer may be a benzene-based derivative from benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene. The structure of this desensitizer exhibits strong van der Waals interactions and Lewis acid function. This structure ensures miscibility and therefore maximum homogeneity of the solution.

[0051] In another variant of the present invention, the desensitizer may be a derivative of benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene functionalized with one or more groups from hydroxyl, carboxyl, and sulfonyl groups. These types of molecules can solubilize at least up to 10% by mass of the desensitizer in a liquid medium, a molten explosive, preferably TNT, thereby meeting all currently expected requirements regarding performance characteristics and safety.

[0052] By appropriately selecting the properties of the desensitizer, the homogeneity of the mixture in the liquid phase is ensured by a strong chemical affinity at the molecular level between the molten explosive and the desensitizer.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present invention, the desensitizer is naphthol, preferably naphtho-2-ol. This desensitizer addresses the issues of uniformity of the propellant charge and compliance with ReaCH regulations (European environmental regulations). Furthermore, its long-term supply is guaranteed. The naphtho-2-ol desensitizer has a much higher melting point than TNT, namely 120°C, and a density of 1.2, which is far superior to the values ​​of insoluble waxes commonly used for the same type of desensitizing function (melting point of 30-79°C and density of 0.6-0.9). This desensitizer limits the problem of propellant charge leaching during the lifecycle of military equipment and ensures final performance.

[0054] It should be noted that its isomer, naphtho-1-ol, is also suitable as a desensitizer in the composition according to the present invention.

[0055] As already described, the molten / castable explosive composition according to the present invention may further contain at least one component from inert particle species and / or at least one energy particle species, present in a mass ratio of 60% or less of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition, preferably 50% or less of the total mass of the molten / castable explosive composition. The inert particle species may contain oxidizing products such as perchlorates and / or reducing products such as aluminum or tungsten in various mass percentage values. The energy particle species may include high-energy materials (HEMs) such as ONTA (3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one, or oxynitrotriazole), RDX, HMX, and high-energy-density materials (HEDM), as well as pyrotechnic compositions such as titanium carbon and nickel carbon. Adding these energy particle species to the composition improves the detonation performance of the composition. The mass ratios of the molten explosive and the desensitizer are adjusted according to the mass ratio of the particle types such that the sum of the mass ratios of the components of the molten / castable explosive composition 10 equals 100%.

[0056] Therefore, the explosive composition of the present invention differs from the composition disclosed in French Patent No. 2954308 in that it does not contain emulsifiers or other additives that contribute to the bonding of the mixture. In the present invention, homogeneity is ensured by a simple mixture of two types: a liquid molten explosive and a desensitizer exhibiting appropriate properties.

[0057] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a military item 50 containing the molten / castable explosive composition 10 according to the present invention. The military item 50 is bounded by a hollow body 51, which is at least partially filled with the molten / castable explosive composition 10 according to the present invention.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of the steps in the method for producing the molten / castable explosive composition 10 according to the present invention. The method for producing the molten / castable explosive composition 10 according to the present invention is: The step of melting the molten explosive 12 (step 100); The steps include adding a desensitizer 23 to the molten molten explosive 12 (step 101); The steps include mixing the desensitizer 23 into the molten molten explosive 12 to obtain a homogenized mixture (step 102), Includes.

[0059] Step 101, in which the desensitizer 23 is added to the molten molten explosive 12, is preferably carried out directly, meaning that the desensitizer 23, which is in solid form at ambient temperature, is added to the liquid molten explosive 12. However, it is also possible to consider adding the desensitizer 23, which is already in liquid form, to the molten (liquid) molten explosive 12. In this latter case, the desensitizer is melted in a step prior to step 101.

[0060] The present invention relates to a method for charging propellant in a munitions 50 whose boundary is defined by a hollow body 51: The steps of the aforementioned method for producing a molten / castable explosive composition; Step 103: The process involves pouring the homogenized mixture into the hollow body 51 of the munitions 50, This also includes methods.

[0061] The method to which this invention relates is a method for charging propellants for military supplies by molten casting. In terms of the function of military supplies, this invention can be used in the fields of artillery, naval and aircraft supplies, bombs, mines, grenades, and warheads.

[0062] The implementation of this solution in propellant charging allows for the maintenance of all existing industrial equipment and means belonging to the molten casting process, eliminating the need to rely on capabilities not possessed by those skilled in the art.

[0063] Therefore, since this solution does not require the specific capabilities of emulsion chemistry and / or special manufacturing equipment, it is compatible with standard equipment for molten casting processes and is easily transitionable by those skilled in the art.

[0064] As a result, the molten / castable explosive compositions according to the present invention exhibit numerous advantages. The desensitizer, soluble in liquid molten explosives, essentially addresses the problem of heterogeneity through its chemical affinity with the molten explosive. The dispersion of the product is optimal and maintained over time. The solution provided by the present invention significantly reduces the range of heterogeneity observed with respect to the concentration of the charge. Conventional compositions exhibit a heterogeneity range of ±2%, while compositions according to the present invention have a heterogeneity range of ±0.5%. Furthermore, the solution proposed by the present invention can be directly implemented in existing methods, and no further capabilities in the complex emulsion field are required. The compositions according to the present invention do not require the addition of additives such as surfactants, which have been necessarily associated with compositions based on molten explosives (TNT) and desensitizers (waxes). The present invention allows for the control of the performance characteristics of munitions by adapting the percentage value of the desensitizer in the composition without the need to change the manufacturing method involved.

[0065] In consideration of the teachings disclosed to those skilled in the art, it will be more generally apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments described above are possible. In the following claims, the terms used should not be construed as limiting the claims to the embodiments described herein, but rather as encompassing all equivalents intended to be covered by the expressions thereof and as can be predicted by those skilled in the art based on their general knowledge. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10. Meltable / castable explosive compositions 12 Liquid TNT 13. Desensitizer 14. Surfactants 23 Insensitizer 50 Munitions 51 Hollow body 100 steps 101 Steps 102 steps 103 steps

Claims

1. A meltable / pourable explosive composition (10) comprising at least two components: A molten explosive (12), preferably a nitrated aromatic ring, more preferably 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; a desensitizer (23) that is soluble at the melting temperature of the fusible explosive (12); containing, And, said desensitizer (23) is present in a non-zero weight ratio of less than or equal to 10% of the total weight of said meltable / castable explosive composition (10), preferably between 2% and 6% of the total weight of said meltable / castable explosive composition (10), more preferably between 3% and 5% of the total weight of said meltable / castable explosive composition (10); the meltable explosive (12) is present in a mass ratio of more than 20% and less than 100% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10), preferably more than 30% and less than 100% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10), preferably more than 40% and less than 100% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10), more preferably more than 50% and less than 100% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10), the sum of the mass ratios of the components of the meltable / castable explosive composition (10) being 100%; A meltable / castable explosive composition (10) characterized by:

2. 2. The meltable / castable explosive composition (10) of claim 1, wherein the desensitizing agent (23) has a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the meltable explosive (12).

3. The meltable / pourable explosive composition (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said desensitizer (23) has a density greater than 1.0, preferably greater than 1.

2.

4. 2. The meltable / pourable explosive composition (10) of claim 1, wherein the desensitizer (23) is a derivative of one of benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene.

5. 2. The meltable / pourable explosive composition (10) of claim 1, wherein the desensitizer (23) is a benzene-based derivative of one of benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene functionalized with one or more groups from hydroxyl, carboxyl, and sulfonyl groups.

6. The meltable / pourable explosive composition (10) of claim 1, wherein said desensitizer (23) is a naphthol, preferably naphth-2-ol.

7. 2. The meltable / castable explosive composition (10) of claim 1, further comprising at least one component from an inert particle species and / or at least one energetic particle species present in a mass ratio of not more than 60% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition, preferably not more than 50% of the total mass of the meltable / castable explosive composition.

8. A munition (50) defined by a hollow body (51), characterized in that said hollow body (51) is at least partially filled with the meltable / pourable explosive composition (10) according to claim 1.

9. A method for producing the meltable / castable explosive composition of claim 1, comprising: Melting (100) the meltable explosive (12); adding (101) the desensitizing agent (23) to the molten fusible explosive (12); mixing (102) said desensitizing agent (23) into said molten molten explosive (12) to obtain a homogenized mixture; A method comprising:

10. A method for charging a munition (50) defined by a hollow body (51), comprising the steps of: The steps of the method for producing the meltable / castable explosive composition of claim 9; Casting (103) the homogenized mixture into the hollow body (51) of the munitions (50); A method comprising:

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